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Hey guys, been having this problem for a while but been getting worse/louder. It will go away (barley audible) SOMETIMES after a long warm up, or driving for a few miles or so. Its louder when driving then it is in neutral. Now the sound is there more then not... Opposite of a month or so ago.

Dude if you can feel the engine vibrating, and your hearing it make a knocking noise, don't rev it OR EVEN RUN IT anymore (i understand you did that to create your video).......and get it towed to your dealership ASAP........At first I thought maybe that was just your tensioner making that sound (mine did the same thing) HOWEVER, you said you feel the engine vibrating too....yeah shut it down and get it towed in immediately!!!! DO NOT RUN IT ANYMORE!!!!

Of all the military achievements I've accomplished my first 10 years of service (made MSGT/E-7 at age 29), the one that makes me most proud is simply being able to serve my country during her darkest hour...NEVER FORGET those who made the ultimate sacrifice doing the same....I SALUTE ALL OUR FALLEN

I bet its your tensioner. If you car has sat for a long time, and developed a warp in the accessory belt, it can pull the tensioner in and out each time it passes. Try watching it while it makes the noise.

take you oil cap off and stick your finger in there and see if you can feel slack in the chain. I bet that is were your noise is. This is the TIMING CHAIN tensioner not to mistaken for the belt tensioner. you can also look inside of your valve cover just above where the chain is and see where it was hitting the cover..

i have multiple mounts on my car so my car vibrates to hell so if you are one those that can FEEL the slightest vibration then i could not help you with that one sorry.... do you have an aftermarket mount? maybe your car is idling low? not sure?

So my car sounds exactly like this. I didn't notice it until I put in my TRZ tranny mount so I didn't really think much of it at first, but it has been getting louder. I just went out into the garage and stuck my finger in the oil cap and there is quite a bit of slack on the chain. Maybe just shy of the amount of slack in the video, but still a noticeable amount.

I'll take it in to the dealer if it needs looked at. How tight should it be?

i have multiple mounts on my car so my car vibrates to hell so if you are one those that can FEEL the slightest vibration then i could not help you with that one sorry.... do you have an aftermarket mount? maybe your car is idling low? not sure?

I dont think I have any after market mounts. It might be idling a bit low, Ill check.

Originally Posted by Raider

Vibes, motor mounts. Passenger Sid have brown shit on the frame below it? It so it's bad. Rear might be torn too. The rest, chain is what I heard.

So my car sounds exactly like this. I didn't notice it until I put in my TRZ tranny mount so I didn't really think much of it at first, but it has been getting louder. I just went out into the garage and stuck my finger in the oil cap and there is quite a bit of slack on the chain. Maybe just shy of the amount of slack in the video, but still a noticeable amount.

I'll take it in to the dealer if it needs looked at. How tight should it be?

The chain tensioner uses oil pressure to tighten. So it's best to check it when the car is warm. If it's still loose, then you have a problem.

Originally Posted by RiceBurn2.3T

A rod was my first thought but I kinda decided to go 'selective thinking' on that one till we eliminate ALL other possibilities
My trans is auto...

Oh snaps... didn't even know what forum i was in lol. GL and keep us posted with what you find.

Sorry for the rotated video....but no oil in the motor and the chain stays tight.. But DJ is right when the VVT changes timing with oil pressure also the tensioner uses oil to push the pin out to keep the tension on the chain.. when the vvt rotates to advance or retard timing this is when the chain is loosening and tightening but the deflection is very minimal..

This is freshly built motor with all new parts that i was about to install...

I checked when it was warm and it is tight. Thanks for the info. OP can have the thread back.

What you might want to do is take the valve cover off and check to see if the chain was hitting the cover or not this will let you know that the chain is tooo loose or not. The chain will get loose and tight due to oil pressure and also the VVT rotating to change timing. You just want to check the deflection of the chain to see if that looseness is tooo loose or not..

I pulled the valve cover and found that the timing chain IS loose. The funny thing is, I cant find a mark where the chain should be hitting the cover, creating the knocking sound. Is that the only spot it would hit to make that knocking sound? I really hope this is the only problem. Thanks guys!

Dude, I am so sorry! I thought i posted. There is a thread in the ms3 section where someone replaced the chain. There is a specific tool needed to keep shot lined up. Search for that thread and I will also check in the morning.

Did you ever look at the passenger side motor mount? $10 donation to the forum will get you access to the tech manuals for the speed 3 which crosses over.

Thanks man! I thought you guys where ignoring me because I never donated yet, haha. I will donate but we are seriously tight with money right now. This car is draining me. On top of the timing chain issue, the ac went out and its getting hot, and the suspension is being weird. But I will definitely donate at least the minimum asap.